Written Answers Thursday 12 March 2009

Scottish Executive

2014 Commonwealth Games

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much additional funding is being made available to ensure a legacy of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Shona Robison: We believe that by using the catalyst of the games, we can get more out of existing resources to deliver a legacy. In shaping our legacy ideas with our wide range of delivery partners, we are being imaginative in how we can use the games to lend impetus to existing or planned programmes. We will also explore other possible funding routes to turn what would be a good legacy into a great legacy. We have already bid for the return of £150 million lottery funds diverted from Scotland to help fund the London 2012 Games and will explore with the private sector and other potential funders possible ways in which they can support the development of community-based legacy.

Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-29612 by Ross Finnie on 23 November 2006, whether actual costings are now available and, if so, what these are.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government does not hold details of any expenditure by local authorities or others as an immediate consequence of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006.

  No secondary legislation has been brought into force which would place any cost on local authorities, other organisations or individuals. However, we plan to introduce secondary legislation which will require pet dealers and the operators on animal sanctuaries to be licensed by local authorities. In such cases local authorities are expected to charge a licensing fee which would cover their administration and inspection costs, therefore, once introduced, there will be no net additional cost to local authorities.

  To date, the costs to the Scottish Government are approximately £7,500 for the production, printing and distribution of a guidance booklet for land managers on the Control of Ragwort.

  A biosecurity code which will be sent to all livestock farmers in Scotland, and animal welfare codes for horses, gamebirds, cats, dogs and rabbits are still being developed and there have been no costs to date.

British-Irish Council

Ian McKee (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will report on the outcome of the British-Irish Council summit held in Cardiff on 20 February 2009.

Nicola Sturgeon: On 20 February 2009, the Welsh Assembly Government hosted the twelfth British-Irish Council (BIC) Summit in Cardiff, attended by myself, the First Minister and Michael Russell MSP, Minister for Culture, External Affairs and the Constitution. The theme for this very successful summit was the role of the Third Sector in promoting Social Inclusion.

  Members had the opportunity to discuss the worsening global economic downturn and the measures being taken by Member Administrations to counter recessionary trends, noting the importance of long-term planning to ensure they are able to emerge from the recession with the skills necessary to benefit from the upturn. The council’s deliberations also considered ways of helping the unemployed and those threatened with redundancy, while encouraging financial institutions to resume lending.

  In relation to the social inclusion work strand, led jointly by Scotland and Wales, the council recognized the significant and vital contribution that the third sector can make to the economies of member administrations during the economic downturn. To this end the council considered a number of measures to support third sector organisations at a time when increasing demand for their services conflicts with the likely adverse affect of the economic downturn upon them.

  As with previous summits, the meeting also received progress reports and agreed a plan for future work on the other subjects being taken forward by council members. Of most importance to Scotland, the council agreed to adopt a new work stream on energy proposed by the Scottish Government. This workstream will see Scotland lead work involving all the member administrations on the Marine Renewables strand, and the UK Government will lead on grid infrastructure issues.

  During these tough economic times, it is well worth noting that Scotland is leading the world in renewable energy – our renewables sector continues to perform strongly with more than £1 billion of investment in recent months – and I am delighted therefore that BIC Members have not just recognized the importance of this work stream, but have also agreed that Scotland lead on it.

  Council members also adopted new work streams on Digital Inclusion, to be led by the Isle of Man, and two proposals from Northern Ireland on Housing and on Collaborative Spatial Planning.

  I have placed a copy of the Communiqué issued by the British-Irish Council after the summit meeting in Cardiff in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 47809).

Cities

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what investment it or its agencies have made in infrastructure projects in the City of Aberdeen in each year from 1999-2000.

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what investment it or its agencies have made in infrastructure projects in the City of Dundee in each year from 1999-2000.

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what investment it or its agencies have made in infrastructure projects in the City of Edinburgh in each year from 1999-2000.

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what investment it or its agencies have made in infrastructure projects in the City of Glasgow in each year from 1999-2000.

John Swinney: Information relating to investment in private finance initiative (PFI) and non-profit distribution (NPD) infrastructure projects where the Scottish Government is providing all or part funding is available from the Scottish Government website and clicking on "Project List – Done Deals".

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/Finance/18232/12308.

  Information on projects undertaken using a procurement method other than PFI or NPD is not held centrally.

Culture

Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what role Scotland’s artisans will play in its cultural strategy.

Michael Russell: As I stated during my meeting with representatives of Scotland’s artistic and creative communities on 18 February 2009, our cultural policy will support all creative practitioners, promote access and encourage participation.

  The Scottish Government has encouraged artists and creative practitioners to think about ways to engage more formally with government, and to be part of the decision making process. This commitment to engagement was reinforced in my announcement on 18 February 2009 of our intention to attract to the board of the interim company Creative Scotland 2009 two further people with a background in, and working understanding of, the creative arts as well as a track record of entrepreneurship.

  Full audiovisual coverage of the event is available on the Scottish Government’s website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/ArtsCultureSport.

Culture

Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to support traditional arts and music other than through the recommendations of the Traditional Arts Working Group.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government continues to support traditional arts and music throughout Scotland. The Scottish Arts Council, as the main funding body for the arts in Scotland, supports a variety of traditional music and arts organisations through foundation, project and flexible funding. They also provide support for individual traditional artists through creative and professional development funding. In future Creative Scotland will assume this role. The promotion and practice of the traditional arts and music are supported by a variety of public bodies funded by the Scottish Government, including local authorities, further and higher education, and the enterprise bodies. Other specific organisations receiving public funding have an important contribution to make to the traditional arts and music such as Feisean nan Gàidheal, An Comunn Gaidhealach, Proiseact nan Ealan, Ceolas, An Lochran, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and MG ALBA.

Culture

Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the value is of the Titian painting, Diana and Actaeon.

Michael Russell: The purchase price of £50 million for Diana and Actaeon was negotiated between the owner, the National Galleries of Scotland and the National Gallery London. This is substantially less than the likely open market value of the painting. Recent valuations (obtained in May 2007 and October 2008) by independent experts put the open market value of the painting at, or in excess of, £100 million. The agreement to purchase the Titian should also be seen in the wider context of the 21 year loan to the National Galleries of Scotland of the Bridgewater Collection, one of the most important collections of art anywhere in the world and estimated conservatively to be worth hundreds of millions of pounds. The purchase of Diana and Actaeon secured the continuation of free public access to that collection in Scotland.

Direct Payments

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-20102 by Shona Robison on 4 February 2009, whether it considers there to be a contradiction between the statement that there is no intention to withdraw existing direct payments in Orkney and the number of recipients of direct payments in Orkney between 2007 and 2008 dropping by 33% while the number rose in most other council areas and what the reasons are for its position on the matter.

Shona Robison: The decline in numbers of direct payments recipients in Orkney between financial years 2006-07 and 2007-08 equates to a drop in service user numbers of 15. Orkney Council have explained the drop citing a number of reasons, including four deaths, changes in levels of need and one person moving from the area. Orkney Council have said that no direct payments have been withdrawn from individuals in receipt who wished to carry on with their packages. The budget allocated to direct payments by the council remains constant and has not been reduced. Work continues locally within the council to review the use and funding of direct payments.

  There are early indications that the number of clients in receipt of direct payments will increase from financial year 2007-08 to 2008-09.

  Ultimately, self-directed support is a matter of choice for individuals. However, we are developing a strategy with a reference group and funding a number of pieces of work, including three local authority test sites, to improve the uptake of self-directed support across Scotland.

  Scottish Government officials are about to undertake visits to each local authority over the next year to fully understand the local circumstances affecting uptake with a view to informing the self-directed support strategy and, if necessary, legislation.

Education

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what support it provides to school pupils for whom English is not their first language through the Getting it Right for Every Child programme.

Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government is investing record levels of funding in local government, £23 billion for the period 2008-10, so that education authorities can respond appropriately to their own needs and priorities. This includes providing for pupils for whom English is an additional language.

  The Getting it Right for Every Child programme is the foundation for work with all children and young people and focuses holistically on the needs of the child. While Getting it Right for Every Child does not make specific provision for individual children, The Additional Support for Learning Act 2004 does. The 2004 act requires education authorities to identify, meet and keep under review the additional support needs of all pupils for whose education they are responsible. Getting it Right for Every Child and the 2004 act are mutually supportive in seeking to improve outcomes for all children.

Education

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings there have been in the last six months between Scottish ministers and representatives of private schools; what subjects were discussed, and what the outcome has been.

Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17817 on 26 November 2008, which provided the information to that date. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

  The following table sets out the details of the meetings for the remainder of the period requested.

  

 Minister
 Date
 Organisation
 Purpose/Outcome


 First Minister
 26 February 2009
Dollar Academy(at Stirling Castle)
 Address the Dollar Academy/Prince’s Trust Scholar’s Challenge Charity Ball, and meet pupils and staff involved.


 Ministers for Schools and Skills, and for Children and Early Years
 29 January 2009
Scottish Council of Independent Schools
 Diversity of the independent sector, Curriculum for Excellence, Skills for learning, life and work and Care Commission inspections. No specific outcome. 


 Minister for Children and Early Years
 2 December 2008
 New Struan School, Alloa
 To meet staff and see the facilities.


 Cabinet Secretary for Justice
 23 December 2008
 Kibble Education and Care Centre, Paisley
 General visit.


"
 23 December 2008
 Good Shepherd Centre, Bishopton
 General visit.


"(Also with the Minister for Community Safety)
 23 February 2009
 Boards of secure units
 To update on the progress of ‘Securing Our Future Initiative’

Enterprise

Alasdair Allan (Western Isles) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is considering to support the Harris Tweed industry in light of recent job losses.

Jim Mather: We were very concerned to hear that Kenneth Mackenzie Ltd. planned to close the mill in Stornoway for 12 months.

  Scottish ministers are committed to supporting a strong and vibrant Harris Tweed sector and will work jointly with the Harris Tweed Industry Liaison Group to assist its sustainable development and growth. I met key stakeholders in Stornoway last August, my officials have been in continuing contact with the sector and I plan to hold a follow-up meeting as soon as possible.

  In addition, our enterprise agencies are dedicating significant resources and assistance to help the industry compete. This includes capital investment, a skills audit, consumer research, an economic impact assessment, and assistance with promotion, marketing and communications strategies.

Environment

Shirley-Anne Somerville (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is on target to introduce the Carbon Reduction Commitment by 1 April 2010 and when the consultation on the draft regulations will be undertaken.

Stewart Stevenson: Yes, we are on schedule but timing is very tight and much work needs to be done. My officials are working very closely with Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) to ensure that this happens. I am therefore pleased to announce that the Scottish Government is today publishing, along with the UK Government and the other Devolved Administrations, the third consultation on the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC).

  The UK Climate Change Act last year set legally binding targets for the UK to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050. Our own Climate Change (Scotland) Bill is currently at Stage 1 of its parliamentary process and will set a target to reduce Scotland’s emissions by 80% by 2050. This will be supported by a framework of annual targets and - a world first - will include international aviation and shipping emissions.

  To help meet the 80% target, the UK Act provided powers to create emissions trading schemes. The CRC will be the first scheme created under these powers. The scheme will be made through an Order in Council. The Order will be laid before the Scottish Parliament later this year and will be subject to an affirmative resolution.

  The CRC will be the world’s first mandatory carbon dioxide emissions trading scheme to auction all allowances. It will cover large non-energy intensive organisations from both the public and private sector such as supermarkets, banks, schools and hospitals. The scheme will encourage participating organisations to use energy more efficiently, thereby reducing energy costs as well as reducing CO2 emissions.

  After the first three-year introductory phase, cap limits will be introduced on the amount of carbon this sector of the economy can emit. The views of the UK Committee on Climate Change will also be taken into account when setting the cap to ensure that the environmental goals of the scheme will be met. The CRC is expected to deliver emissions savings of at least 4Mt CO2 per year by 2020.

  The Scottish Government believes that this innovative scheme will drive improvements in energy efficiency in a large sector of the economy. We expect the market for energy efficient technology and energy services to grow in response to the CRC, stimulating innovation and helping to lay the foundations for low carbon economic growth.

  The CRC has been developed by government in close consultation with stakeholders in business and the public sector. The Scottish Government will itself be a participant in the scheme: we look forward to leading by example and exploring every avenue to become more energy efficient and to drive down our emissions from on-site energy use.

  Copies of the consultation package on the draft CRC Order, which will form the statutory basis of the scheme, are available through Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 47937). It is also published on the Scottish Government Climate Change website.

Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-29601 by Ross Finnie on 23 November 2006, whether actual costings are now available and, if so, what these are.

Richard Lochhead: The information requested relating to the actual costs of Strategic Environmental Assessment is not held centrally.

Fatal Accident Inquiries

Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from the Scotland Office about fatal accident inquiries for Scots who have died abroad and what action it is taking as a result of any such representations.

Kenny MacAskill: No representations have been received from the Scotland Office about fatal accident inquiries for Scots who have died abroad except in relation to the deaths abroad of Scottish military personnel on active service, concerning which matter officials continue to work on an amendment to the Coroners and Justice Bill enabling investigations to be held in Scotland.

Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-29593 by Robert Brown on 17 November 2006, whether actual costings are now available and, if so, what these are.

Michael Russell: The actual known costs of the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 in each year since the 2005 act came into force are set out in the following table:

  

 
 2005-06
 2006-07
 2007-08
 2008-09


 Initial set-up
 Nil
 --
 --
 --


 Annual costs, Scottish Government*
£2.650 million
£4.409 million
£4.409 million
£5.409 million


 Annual costs, local authorities
 This information is not held centrally
 This information is not held centrally
 This information is not held centrally
 This information is not held centrally


 Annual costs, Other Public Sector Organisations or bodies
 As above
 As above
 As above
 As above


 Annual costs, Other individuals, organisations and bodies
 As above
 As above
 As above
 As above



  Note: *Funding for Bòrd na Gàidhlig.

  The projected costs of the Gaelic language (Scotland) Act 2005 that were outlined in the Financial Memorandum are set out in the following table:

  

 
 Scottish Government
 Local Authorities
 Other Public Sector Organisations or Bodies
 Other Individuals, Organisations and Bodies


 Initial set-up costs
 Nil
 Nil
 Nil
 Nil


 Annual costs
 Nil*
 0 - £155,000
 0 - £155,000
 Nil



  Note: *The annual costs for Bòrd na Gàidhlig were not discussed in the Financial Memorandum. However, these costs are set out in the table.

General Practitioners

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures that GPs are fully trained and aware of the symptoms so that they can diagnose myalgic encephalopathy/chronic fatigue syndrome and make referrals to specialist services.

Shona Robison: GPs, as independent contractors, are expected to highlight and address their own education needs throughout their careers. They are also expected to follow locally agreed and national clinical guidelines on the management of patients with CFS/ME.

  GPs are supported in this by NHS boards, for example through the Protected Learning Time initiatives which allows supported time for training.

  The Scottish Good Practice Statement for GPs on CFS/ME will, amongst other things, help lay the foundations for a basic training package for health professionals. Development of the advice has involved the assessment of a wide range of material, including international work, in order to produce a document suited to Scottish circumstances. The advice is due to be published in the near future.

Health

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the health and wellbeing budget is spent on encouraging walking.

Shona Robison: We are funding Paths to Health with £3 million from 2008 to 2011 through the physical activity part of the health and wellbeing budget.

  The Scottish Government’s Take Life On communications campaign promotes the health and mental wellbeing benefits of walking, alongside messages on healthy eating and alcohol moderation. From the campaign launch in June 2008 to the present, £300,000 has been invested from the health and wellbeing budget on communications across all three of these constituent topics.

Health

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent on providing vitamin D supplements for (a) pregnant women and (b) children aged between six months and four years in each of the last five years.

Shona Robison: This information is not available.

Health

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what advice and guidance on vitamin D supplements is issued to (a) NHS boards and (b) health professionals.

Shona Robison: We have not issued any advice and guidance. We will, however, be considering this in the light of the outcome of research currently underway which has been commissioned by Health Scotland, and is expected to report in late spring 2009.

Health

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered running a public awareness campaign on the importance of vitamin D in maintaining good health.

Shona Robison: We will consider the need for a campaign in the light of the outcome of research which is currently underway which has been commissioned by Health Scotland, and is expected to report in late spring 2009.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many isolates of Clostridium difficile ribotype 027 and 078 have been found in each of the last four quarters, broken down by (a) NHS board and (b) hospital.

The Executive has supplied the following corrected answer:

Nicola Sturgeon: All available information on ribotypes is published in the clostridium difficile quarterly reports available through the Health Protection Scotland website at www.hps.scot.nhs.uk .

  At present information is only recorded at a national level and is not broken down by Health Board or hospital. Samples from severe cases of CDAD and suspected outbreaks are submitted to the Scottish Reference Laboratory Service for typing.

  The Scottish Government has asked Health Protection Scotland to co-ordinate a "snapshot" study of Clostridium difficile ribotypes. This study will start early next year and will involve the typing of representative samples of all cases of C.diff, not just those of severe disease, suspected outbreaks, or suspected infections with ribotype 027. This will give an accurate picture of the epidemiology of C.diff strains in Scotland and will help to inform how the monitoring of strains should take place in future. The results will be made available publicly.

Higher Education

Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to improve support for postgraduate and second degree studies.

Fiona Hyslop: Scotland is the only country in the UK which directly funds taught postgraduate students. I announced yesterday arrangements for the establishment of a pilot initiative in academic year 2009-10 which will benefit up to 150 part-time postgraduate students studying at Scottish universities. This will be the first time that student support will be available for part-time study at this level.

  Over the last year the funding available to taught postgraduate students in Scottish universities has been under review. I will make an announcement on any longer term changes in due course.

  I also announced yesterday the expansion of the Career Development Loans (CDL) scheme in Scotland from September 2009. The loan funding available will also be made more flexible. This will treble the number of learners able to benefit from CDLs in Scotland from around 1,200 each year to up to 3,600 by 2010. The majority of these new loans are likely to be taken up by taught postgraduate students. CDLs also enable people to undertake second degrees, providing financial support towards tuition fees and other costs. There are similar changes being proposed in England.

  People doing second degrees on a part-time basis may be separately eligible for the part-time grant (ILA500).

Homelessness

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail all occasions on which the First Minister has visited a homelessness project since May 2007.

John Swinney: The First Minister has supported a variety of homelessness initiatives, including:

  Hosting reception for Scotland’s victorious Homeless World Cup team on 25 September 2007.

  Interview with The Big Issue magazine on 16 January 2008.

  Speaking at International Network of Street Papers conference on 18 June 2008.

  Speaking at Aberdeen Cyrenians event on 3 July 2008.

Housing

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the introduction of home reports has had on the housing market.

Alex Neil: The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors considers that the home report has tempted potential buyers back to the housing market, that buyers are making the most of having home reports available to them and that this is keeping interest in the housing market alive, with many sellers seeing home reports as a good marketing tool.

  The Institution’s research shows the 10 largest surveyors’ firms that provide nearly all the surveys in Scotland agree that the slow property market and dip in house prices are due to lack of mortgage finance, risk of redundancy and low confidence in the market, and not due to the introduction of the home report. Although some selling agents consider that the home report has slowed down the rate of properties coming to the market, others believe it is stimulating the market.

Housing

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive who appoints the monitoring officer and deputy monitoring officer for each local authority and whether these appointments require the approval of any agency other than the relevant local authority.

John Swinney: The Local Government and Housing Act 1989 requires councils to designate one of their officers as monitoring officer. The legislation requires that it must not be the Chief Finance Officer. No other approval is required.

  In the absence of the monitoring officer, duties will be performed by the member of staff personally nominated by the monitoring officer as his deputy.

Housing

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authority monitoring officers are required to report regularly to any body other than the local authority for which they act and, if so, to what bodies.

John Swinney: Monitoring officers are only required to report to the full council for which they act.

Housing

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the monitoring officer and deputy monitoring officer of each local authority are obliged to liaise with the chief executive of their local authority.

John Swinney: The monitoring officer and deputy monitoring offer are independent and are not subject to direction by the council. However, the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 states it is the duty of a monitoring officer in preparing a report, to consult as far as practicable with the authorities’ Head of Paid Services and the Chief Finance Officer.

Housing

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in order to inform responses to the consultation, Investing in Affordable Housing: A Consultation , whether it will clarify how it plans to ensure that the proposed lead developers will secure private funding and develop efficient cash flows for developments in cases where their consortia intend to transfer the relevant property units to another registered social landlord.

Alex Neil: In the consultation Investing in Affordable Housing: A Consultation the Government has proposed developing guidance to support associations when setting up consortia and lead developer arrangements. This proposed guidance is intended to address questions such as the raising of private finance and efficient cash flows in cases when one association builds homes that are then owned and managed by another association. The full scope of the proposed guidance, and decisions about the reform proposals as a whole, will be considered by the government in light of the consultation responses.

Housing

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in order to inform responses to the consultation, Investing in Affordable Housing: A Consultation , whether it will fully explain the basis on which it is assumed that lead developers will be better equipped than small rural housing associations in terms of identification of land and skills for new developments.

Alex Neil: The consultation Investing in Affordable Housing: A Consultation sets out the current proposal that; "Lead developers will be established good performers and exemplars of good practice in procurement and investment. They will have strong connections and relationships with local authorities and other major stakeholders. Appointment as a lead developer would offer RSLs opportunities for increased control over the planning and management of investment and for developing stronger relations with central and local government, as well as with contractors, developers and other private sector partners. And lead developers will further develop good practice in investment and procurement, acting as beacons for further improvement for the benefit of the sector as a whole."(paragraph 35).

  When working with a lead developer there will continue to be an important role for small rural housing associations in terms of identification of land and skills for new developments. The position of associations and their role when working with a Lead Developer should be safeguarded by putting in place a formal agreement. The government has proposed developing guidance to support associations when setting up consortia and lead developer arrangements and putting a formal agreement in place. It is also proposed that associations can continue to develop without working with a lead developer if they satisfy the proposed pre-qualification criteria, which would be another route for small rural associations.

  The scope of the proposed guidance, and decisions about the reform proposals as a whole, will be considered by the government in light of the consultation responses.

Housing

Bob Doris (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the review of the private rented sector.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Government announced in Firm Foundations: The Future of Housing in Scotland , that it would undertake an extensive review of the private rented sector.

  This review, which includes research and analysis commissioned externally, as well as a range of analytical work carried out within the Scottish Government, has been completed.

  I am pleased to announce that the Scottish Government intends to publish the review of the private rented sector on 24 March 2009.

  Copies will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre on 24 March 2009 (Bib. number 47826).

Housing (Scotland) Act 2006

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-29603 by Malcolm Chisholm on 29 November 2006, whether actual costings are now available and, if so, what these are.

Alex Neil: The provisions in the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 are not yet all in force. Of those that are in force, most have been in force for less than a year and so annual costs are not yet available.

  The total of the actual set-up costs for the Scottish Government to date is £1.3 million. This relates to set-up costs for the Private Rented Housing Panel (PRHP) under Part 1 Chapter 4 of the 2006 act, enforcement powers under Part 1 Chapters 1, 3, 5 and 6, Scheme of Assistance powers under Part 2, and the provision of information on sale of houses under Part 3.

  Information on set-up and annual costs to local authorities and other bodies and individuals is not collected centrally.

International Relations

Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish an analysis of progress made under The Scottish Government’s Plan for Engagement with China , published in May 2008.

Michael Russell: The targets and objectives within the China Plan run until 2011. There are no plans at present to publish an analysis on progress. In developing inputs under this plan we are clear that we are developing a long-term relationship with China which requires long-term commitments.

Justice

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many direct measures have been issued by procurators fiscal for vandalism in each month since August 2008.

Frank Mulholland QC: The following table shows the number of charges under section 52(1) of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995 (wilfully or recklessly destroy or damage property), where the initial decision taken by the Procurator Fiscal was to deal with the offending behaviour by means of a direct measure from September 2008 to February 2009.

  The figures include only those direct measures which were affected by Criminal Proceedings etc (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007.

  Table 1: Charges - Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995, Section 52(1) - Direct Measures Issued 1, 2

  

 COPFS
September 2008
October 2008
November 2008
December 2008
January 2009
February 2009


 Charges as Direct Measures
 275
 218
 212
 149
 185
 216


 Total Charges Reported
 1,381
 1,414
 1,227
 1,298
 1,610
 1,219



  Notes:

  1. The information in these tables has been extracted from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service’s (COPFS) case management database. The database is a live, operational database used to manage the processing of reports submitted to procurators fiscal by the police and other reporting agencies. If a Procurator Fiscal amends a charge submitted by a reporting agency, the database will record details only of the amended charge.

  2. The database is charge-based. The figures quoted therefore relate to the number of charges rather than the number of individuals charged or the number of incidents that gave rise to such charges.

Justice

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people charged with assault to injury from 1 October 2008 to 31 January 2009 have received a direct measure, broken down by local authority area.

Frank Mulholland QC: The following table shows the number of charges of Assault to Injury, where the initial decision taken by the Procurator Fiscal was to deal with the offending behaviour by means of a direct measure from 1 October 2008 to 31 January 2009.

  The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) database does not contain information to identify local authority areas and the individual jurisdictions do not always match the local authority areas. As a result, the information has been split into the COPFS Areas.

  The figures include only those direct measures which were affected by Criminal Proceedings etc (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007.

  Table 1: Charges - Assault to Injury 1, 2

  

Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
Total Charges Reported
Total as Direct Measures


 Argyll and Clyde
 430
 12


 Ayrshire
 441
 7


 Central
 183
 4


 Dumfries and Galloway
 200
 13


 Fife
 297
 21


 Glasgow
 678
 24


 Grampian
 495
 28


 Highland and Islands
 163
 13


 Lanarkshire
 410
 13


 Lothian and Borders
 1,243
 68


 Tayside
 238
 4



  Notes:

  1. The information in these tables has been extracted from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service’s case management database. The database is a live, operational database used to manage the processing of reports submitted to procurators fiscal by the police and other reporting agencies. If a Procurator Fiscal amends a charge submitted by a reporting agency, the database will record details only of the amended charge.

  2. The database is charge-based. The figures quoted therefore relate to the number of charges rather than the number of individuals charged or the number of incidents that gave rise to such charges.

Local Government

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the monitoring officer and deputy monitoring officer of each local authority and the other positions they hold in their local authority.

John Swinney: This information is not held centrally. The appointment of a monitoring officer rests with each local authority.

Local Government

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what remuneration each local authority monitoring officer and deputy monitoring officer has received in respect of fulfilling the functions of that office in each year since 1999.

John Swinney: This information is not held centrally. The remuneration of monitoring officers and deputy monitoring officers is a matter for each local authority.

Local Government

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what body has primary responsibility for monitoring the work of local authority monitoring officers.

John Swinney: The role of monitoring officers is independent and is not subject to direction by the council or any other body.

Management of Offenders etc. (Scotland) Bill

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-29600 by Cathy Jamieson on 20 November 2006, whether actual costings are now available and, if so, what these are.

Kenny MacAskill: Details of actual substantive costings available centrally are set out in the following table in the same categories as the Financial Memorandum to the Management of Offenders etc. (Scotland) Bill. The annual costs relate to 2007-08 - the last full financial year.

  Integrated management of offenders – Community Justice Authorities

  

 Scottish Government
 Local Authorities
 Other Bodies and Individuals


 Set up
 Annual costs 
 Set up
 Annual costs
 Set up
 Annual costs


 
£193,750 per CJA
 
 
 
 



  Home Detention Curfew – Costs to Scottish Government

  

 Scottish Government
 Local Authorities
 Other bodies and Individuals


 Set up
 Annual costs
 Set up
 Annual costs
 Set up
 Annual costs


 
£5,119,781 inclusive of VAT
 
 
 
 



  The Scottish Government does not hold details of any expenditure by local authorities or others as an immediate consequence of the act.

Ministerial Visits

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the ministerial visits made to the Glasgow Maryhill constituency since 17 May 2008, showing which other MSPs or ministers were in attendance and broken down by (a) ministerial portfolio, (b) venue, (c) date and (d) purpose of visit.

John Swinney: All available information held within the Scottish Government is shown in the following table.

  

 Name
 Date of Visit
 Venue
 Purpose


 First Minister
 Nil
 
 


 Minister for Parliamentary Business
 Nil
 
 


 Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture
 25 July 2008
 Scottish Opera Production Studios,40 Edington Street, Glasgow G4 9RD
 To attend a photocall/make an announcement in connection with the Edinburgh Arts Festival.


 Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth
 1 December 2008
 Allied Vehicles, 230 Balmore Road, Glasgow G22 6LJ
 To discuss electric vehicle technology.


 Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism
 Nil
 
 


 Minister for Transport Infrastructure and Climate Change
 Nil
 
 


 Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning
 Nil
 
 


 Minister for Schools and Skills
 Nil
 
 


 Minister for Children and Early Years
 Nil
 
 


 Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing
19 May 200819 January 2009
 Ethnic Enable, Napiershall Centre, 39 Napiershall Street, Glasgow, G20 6EZ Possilpark Health Centre, Denmark Street, Glasgow G22 5EG
 To meet staff & see services provided by Ethnic Enable. The Cabinet Secretary also spoke to the group and presented Awards. To visit the Health Centre, meet staff, and to announce Primary and Community Care premises funding.


 Minister for Public Health
 Nil
 
 


 Minister for Communities and Sport
 11 April 200810 November 2008
 Firhill Arena, Maryhill, Glasgow 121 Hillend Road, Maryhill Glasgow G22 6PF
 To watch Magners League Rugby Match (Glasgow v Edinburgh).Housing – Glasgow City Council’s 1000th Reprovisioning Event.


 Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment
 Nil
 
 


 Minister for the Environment
 Nil
 
 


 Cabinet Secretary for Justice
 Nil
 
 


 Minister for Community Safety
 18 August 2008
 Maryhill Fire Station
 Launch of National Fire Safety Marketing Campaign.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how patients with myalgic encephalopathy/chronic fatigue syndrome can be assured of a consistent level of service in each NHS board area.

Shona Robison: NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) is developing clinical standards for neurological conditions. Standard statement 1 is that an effective and comprehensive neurological health service is available and offered across all NHS boards. NHS QIS published the draft standards for consultation on 24 November 2008, with publication due in summer 2009.

  Other initiatives which will contribute to consistency of services are the Scottish Good Practice Statement on CFS/ME being developed for GPs by Action for ME, and the needs assessment being carried out by the Scottish Public Health Network. A Managed Clinical Network approach would also help to promote consistency of services.

Opening Ceremonies

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what new (a) schools and (b) health facilities have had official openings since May 2007; who undertook each opening ceremony, and which MSPs and MPs were invited in each case.

Keith Brown: Information relating to official openings of schools by other than Scottish ministers is not held centrally. Details of such openings by Scottish ministers are set out in the following table, although information regarding invitations to MSPs and MPs is not held.

  Details in relation to official openings of health facilities by Scottish ministers are not currently collated.

  Schools Officially Opened by Scottish Ministers Since May 2007

  

 Date
 School
 Minister


 June 2007
 Strathallan Primary, Kirkcaldy 
 Minister for Schools and Skills


 September 2007
 Simpson Primary, Bathgate
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Life Long Learning


 November 2007
 Windygoul Primary, Tranent
 First Minister


 January 2008
 Bun-sgoil Ghaidhlig Primary, Inverness
 First Minister


 January 2008
 Mauchline Primary, East Ayrshire 
 Minister for Children and Early Years


 March 2008
 Rothesay Campus 
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Life Long Learning


 May 2008
 Lochgilphead Campus 
 Minister for Environment and Rural Development


 May 2008
 Greenwood Academy, Irvine
 Deputy First Minister


 May 2008
 St Matthew’s Academy, Saltcoats
 First Minister


 September 2008
 Linwood High, Renfrewshire
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Life Long Learning


 September 2008
 Donaldson’s School, Linlithgow
 First Minister


 November 2008
 Sanderson’s Wynd Primary, Tranent
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Life Long Learning


 November 2008
 Wallace High, Stirling
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Life Long Learning


 November 2008
 Calderside Academy, Blantyre
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Life Long Learning


 November 2008
 Duloch Campus, Dunfermline 
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Life Long Learning


 January 2009
 Alloway Primary, Ayr
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Life Long Learning


 February 2009
 Galston Primary, East Ayrshire
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Life Long Learning


 February 2009
 Dunning Primary, Perthshire
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Life Long Learning

Police

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether police constables have been used in previous years to deliver training to probationer constables at the Scottish Police College.

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether police constables are being used to deliver training to probationer constables at the Scottish Police College and, if so, what factors motivated this decision.

Kenny MacAskill: This is an operational matter for the Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA). I have asked the Chief Executive of SPSA to respond.

Police

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost per day is of a police sergeant.

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost per day is of a police constable.

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average length of time served is by a police constable when promoted to sergeant.

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average length of time served is of a police sergeant.

Kenny MacAskill: The information requested is not held centrally.

Police

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it made an assessment of the impact of increasing the officer intake on the quality of training delivered to probationer constables at the Scottish Police College and, if so, what that assessment was.

Kenny MacAskill: This is an operational matter for the Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA). I have asked the Chief Executive of SPSA to respond.

Police

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many probationer police constables were in each intake in each of the last three years.

Kenny MacAskill: Accurate statistics are not available for 2006-07. The following tables provide the statistics for 2007-08 and 2008-09.

  Student Numbers 2007-08

  

 Course No
 Totals Attending
 Totals Less Attrition
 Completion as Percentage


 2001-07
 60
 60
 100


 2002-07
 100
 98
 98


 2003-07
 47
 47
 100


 2004-07
 66
 66
 100


 2005-07
 50
 50
 100


 2006-07
 80
 80
 100


 2007-07
 99
 97
 97


 2008-07
 79
 77
 97


 Totals
 694
 682
 98%



  Student Numbers 2008-09

  

 Course No
 Totals Attending
 Totals Less Attrition
 Completion as Percentage


 2001-08
 146
 139
 95


 2002-08
 151
 146
 97


 2003-08
 194
 191
 98


 2004-08
 196
 193
 98


 2005-08
 197
 197
 100


 2006-08
 Not complete
 Not complete
 Not complete


 2007-08
 Not complete
 Not complete
 Not complete


 2008-08
 Not complete
 Not complete
 Not complete


 Totals
 884
 866
 98%

Police

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the ratio of teaching staff to probationer constables at the Scottish Police College has been in each intake in each of the last three years.

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many contact hours on average a probationer constable spent on (a) knowledge and (b) practical based training at the Scottish Police College during their initial training in (i) 2006-07, (ii) 2007-08 and (iii) 2008-09 and whether there are plans for this to change.

Kenny MacAskill: The information requested is not held centrally.

Police

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the training delivered by the Probationer Training Division at the Scottish Police College has changed in the last year and, if so, what changes have been made.

Kenny MacAskill: This is an operational matter for the Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA). I have asked the chief executive of SPSA to respond.

Police

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the assessment criteria used by the Probationer Training Division at the Scottish Police College to assess probationer constables has changed in the since November 2007 and, if so, what the changes are and when they were made.

Kenny MacAskill: This is an operational matter for the Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA). I have asked the chief executive of SPSA to respond.

Police

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it consulted the Scottish Police College prior to announcing its intention to recruit an additional 1,000 new police officers on 12 November 2007.

Kenny MacAskill: There were detailed discussions with the Scottish Police Services Authority prior to the announcement on 12 November 2007 of the range of measures to deliver a more visible police presence in Scotland and an additional 1,000 police officers available in our communities.

Police

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Police College received additional support to administer training and assessment to an increased number of probationer police constables in (a) 2007-08 and (b) 2008-09 or will do so in future years, in light of its plans to recruit an additional 1,000 new police officers, as announced on 12 November 2007.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA) provided probationer training to a record number of recruits in 2007-08 and 2008-09 without additional government grant. The SPSA budget for 2009-10 is currently being considered.

Police

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what factors led to year one refresher training for police officers being administered by individual forces instead of by the Scottish Police College as previously was the case.

Kenny MacAskill: This is an operational matter for the Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA). I have asked the chief executive of SPSA to respond.

Police

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the recruitment process for a replacement HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary for Scotland has commenced and, if so, on what date it began.

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has advertised for a replacement HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary for Scotland.

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects a replacement HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary for Scotland to be in post.

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intents to reform the role or remit of any inspectorates within the portfolio of the Cabinet Secretary for Justice.

Kenny MacAskill: The process for replacing HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary for Scotland has not yet commenced. The Independent Review of Policing, which was carried out by HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary for Scotland, makes a number of recommendations that would influence the future role of the Inspectorate. We need to consider these and also how the work of the Inspectorate fits with our aim of delivering a more effective and proportionate system of scrutiny for Scotland. We will discuss these issues with stakeholders, including Chief Constables and Police Authority Convenors, and aim to conclude our consideration by summer recess. Arrangements are being put in place to ensure that the work of the inspectorate can carry on smoothly in the interim period.

Prison Service

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners were in custody in each prison on 11 February 2009, broken down by local authority of residence at the time of reception in prison.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  The SPS do not record the home local authority of prisoners. The population as of 11 February 2009 is listed in the following table.

  

 Establishment
 Total


 Aberdeen
 225


 Addiewell
 412


 Barlinnie
 1,359


 Cornton Vale
 422


 Dumfries
 194


 Edinburgh
 801


 Glenochil
 743


 Greenock
 314


 Inverness
 155


 Kilmarnock
 548


 Open Estate
 319


 Perth
 770


 Peterhead
 306


 Polmont
 646


 Shotts
 534


 Total
 7,748

Prison Service

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the evidence given to the Public Petitions Committee on 10 February 2009 by the Cabinet Secretary for Justice, whether there are technical reasons for which the site of HMP Aberdeen can not be used for a new remand facility.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-20856 on 4 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Public Appointments

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the recruitment process for a replacement HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland has commenced and, if so, on what date it began.

Kenny MacAskill: The post of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons was advertised on Friday 6 March.

Residential Care

Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many deaths of residents in care homes have been the subject of investigation over alleged malpractice in the last five years and how many complaints have been upheld.

Nicola Sturgeon: Good quality care in care homes is a high priority for the Scottish Government. The Care Commission regularly inspects care homes against the National Care Standards and various related regulations. The standards clearly state that a resident can expect that the home is run in a way that protects them from any avoidable risk or harm. The Care Commission investigates all complaints of neglect or abuse.

  Any suggestion of malpractice should in the first instance be investigated by the care provider and then referred on to the appropriate professional registration body where appropriate. The provider is also legally obliged to notify the Scottish Social Services Council of any individual who they have dismissed due to misconduct, or who would have been dismissed had that person not abandoned their post. The Scottish Social Services Council has not been notified of any cases of malpractice in care homes resulting in the death of a care home resident in the last five years.

Residential Care

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail all occasions on which the First Minister has visited a care home since May 2007.

John Swinney: The First Minister visited the Erskine Home for Veterans on 6 February 2008.

Residential Care

Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many times the Care Home Development Group has met and whether minutes of these meetings are available.

Shona Robison: The Care Home Development Group was set up by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) and has met five times since its inception in April 2008. The minutes are routinely circulated only to members of the group, but copies can be requested from:

  Doug Haggart

  National Care Home Contract Project Officer

  COSLA

  Rosebery House,

  9 Haymarket Terrace

  Edinburgh

  EWH12 5XZ.

  doug@cosla.gov.uk.

  0131 474 9272.

Residential Care

Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what groups are represented on the Care Home Development Group.

Shona Robison: The group was set up by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) and the following organisations are represented on it:

  COSLA;

  Association of Directors of Social Work;

  Scottish Government;

  Care Commission;

  Scottish Social Services Council;

  Scottish Care, and

  Scotland Excel.

Residential Care

Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the Care Home Development Group to publish its cost of care study.

Shona Robison: The cost of care study has been commissioned by the Care Home Development Group to help inform its work on securing the long term viability of the care home sector. Publication of the report is a matter for that group, and I understand that they will discuss it at their next meeting later this month.

Schools

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what level-playing-field support for school building programmes local authorities have received from it since May 2007, broken down by local authority.

Keith Brown: Level playing field support (LPFS) for those authorities with LPFS schools projects, stemming from arrangements set in train in 1998, is included within the block grant element of the annual local government finance settlement. The amount paid annually to each of the 10 authorities is set out in the following table:

  


£ Million


 Aberdeenshire
 1.40


 East Renfrewshire
 1.25


 Edinburgh
 6.62


 Falkirk
 8.64


 Fife
 3.68


 Glasgow
 14.67


 Highland
 1.55


 Midlothian
 3.12


 Stirling
 1.59


 West Lothian
 1.92


 Total
 44.44

Schools

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19562 by Maureen Watt on 29 January 2009, whether it will provide details of the procurement route for each of the 152 schools.

Keith Brown: Of the 152 schools, 92 were procured under public private partnerships (PPP) or non-profit distributing (NPD) arrangements and 60 under other arrangements. Precise details of procurement routes for local authority school projects are not held centrally.

Scottish Government Expenditure

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) conferences and (b) other events have been supported by it since May 2007 and at what cost.

John Swinney: The information requested is not held centrally.

Scottish Government Staff

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what interests have been declared by its senior officials in relation to shares held or other potential conflicts of interest.

John Swinney: Under the terms of the Data Protection Act 1998, interests declared by individual senior officials are considered to be personal data which we are unable to publish.

Teachers

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many and what percentage of probationary teachers who completed their probationary year in 2008 have not secured a full-time teaching post.

Keith Brown: The information requested is not held centrally. Results from the survey carried out by the General Teaching Council for Scotland on 2007-08 post probationary teachers shows that by October 2008, 79% of respondents were teaching in Scotland on a variety of contracts.

Teachers

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the relative responsibilities are for workforce planning in teaching of (a) Scottish ministers, (b) the General Teaching Council and (c) local authorities.

Keith Brown: Scottish ministers are responsible for providing annual guidance to the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) to assist the council in setting intakes to initial teacher education (ITE). Information from the Scottish Government’s annual teacher workforce planning exercise which projects requirements for newly qualified teachers at a national level is part of this guidance.

  The General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) are responsible for making recommendations to Scottish Ministers on the supply of teachers and as such are represented on the Teacher Workforce Planning Advisory Group (TWPAG) whose advice informs Scottish ministers guidance on ITE to SFC.

  Local authorities, through the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) and the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland, (ADES) are also represented on TWPAG. Individual local authorities are responsible for local teacher workforce planning.

Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-29578 by Johann Lamont on 23 November 2006, whether actual costings are now available and, if so, what these are.

Kenny MacAskill: Details of actual substantive costings available centrally are set out in the following table in the same categories as the Financial Memorandum to the Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004. The annual costs relate to 2005-06 to 2007-08.

  

 
 Scottish Government
 Local Authorities*
 Other Bodies and Individuals


 Set Up
 Annual Costs
 Set Up
 Annual Costs
 Set Up
 Annual Costs


 2005-06
 341,408
 161,435
 N/A
 N/A
 578,444
 260,000


 2006-07
 143,016
 234,755
 N/A
 N/A
 340,000
 620,000


 2007-08
 81,632
 181,405
 N/A
 N/A
 2,150,000
 1,100,000



  It has not been possible to disaggregate the costs incurred by local authorities and a number of other agencies such as the police and the Scottish Legal Aid Board, as these have been absorbed into general operational costs.

  The variations in yearly costs are due principally to the fact that the act was implemented in phases, with full implementation occurring in 2008-09.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Access for People with Disabilities

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it provides toilets designed to the Changing Places standard and accessible to visitors in the Holyrood complex.

Alex Johnstone: The SPCB provides a Changing Places facility which is accessible to all passholders and visitors in the Holyrood complex. In 2007, the SPCB received a national award under the Changing Places Category for Scotland for achieving this standard. It is located in the garden lobby area and visitors can be escorted from the public area if they wish to access the facility.

  The parliament’s "Accessible guide for disabled visitors" leaflet provides full details on how to access the facility.